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Laudrup relieved as Swansea grind out win

Swansea manager Michael Laudrup was relieved his team got the job done against Swiss side St Gallen in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday.

The Welsh side earned the 1-0 win through Wayne Routledge's second-half strike but could have been behind early if St Gallen's Goran Karanovic converted his 15th minute spot-kick.

While he believed his side had performed poorly, Laudrup was ecstatic they had snatched the three points - a way they rarely win their games, according to the Dane.

"For me, the most positive thing - other than the result - is that I don't remember the last time we won without playing well," Laudrup said.

"Normally, to win, we always have to play well.

"I am pleased with the win but it was probably not one of our best games.

"In Europe, it's tight and always difficult, and I think St Gallen showed today that they have a good squad."

Swansea started their Europa League campaign with a stunning 3-0 win at Valencia and with results falling their way across Group A, Laudrup believes the victory over St Gallen has put his team in the driving seat ahead of their next continental match against Russia's Kuban Krasnodar.

"We are in a really good position because Valencia won away and St Gallen won their first game at home," Laudrup said.

"So now, after two games, we have six (points), with two teams on three, who have to play each other.

"If we can win the next game against Kuban, we will be in a really, really good position.

"You need maybe ten points (to qualify for the knockout stages of the Europa League), so if we win the next game, we will need one point from three games, but if we can be top of the group, even better."